Page 30 of Under Pressure
Harry grinned under that white mustache of his and tugged on his pageboy cap. “She’s going out with Landry today for pedicures.”
“Oh,” Sean said, not knowing what else to add.
“You’re looking for us?” Polly asked, a fork with a skewered piece of cantaloupe held aloft in her hand.
Sean nodded.
“How can we help you?” Nancy dabbed a white napkin over her lips.
“My mom’s birthday is in a few days, and I have no idea what to buy her.” Sean placed his hands on his hips and sighed. Sure, he was hamming it up a bit, but he really did need help. And these ladies had met his mom on multiple occasions over the years—they’d know better than Sean what to get her. Plus, they loved him. They wouldn’t be able to resist, and Sean could use some grandma affection today.
Gramps turned all the way around in his seat, his normally perfectly combed white hair, messy on the sides. “My land, son. You haven’t gotten her gift yet?”
Sean shook his head, glancing from one lady to the next. “I was hoping, when you’re done with your breakfasts, that you would be willing to help me pick out a gift?”
“¡Por supuesto!” Rosa declared at the same time that Winnie clasped her hands in front of her heart and said, “We’d love to help.”
Sean signaled toward the backdoor. “Great. I have a golf cart waiting.”
In an almost perfectly synchronized move, the ladies stood. Winnie and Rosa kissed their respective husbands on the cheeks, Nancy patted Don on the shoulder. Rosa took one of Sean’s arms and Winnie took the other.
Sean breathed out in relief. “Thank you.” He glanced at the men. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Bring me a Danish?” Walt asked.
“Ooo, me too.” Harry raised his hand.
Gramps glared at them, his hands fisting on the table. He’d had Sean on a sweets diet since the funeral.
Sean grinned. “No problem, I got you.” A perfect excuse to get himself a Danish. Sweet.
* * *
Within five minutes, Sean pulled to a stop at the beach end of the Pier Shops and parked the golf cart in a spot specially reserved for carts. There was a surprising number of them in Diamond Cove.
They passed a lady heading for one of the shops—probably worked there based on her semi-casual apparel. She waved. “Thank you for your service.”
Sean almost came up cold. How did she know . . .? Right. That was probably going to be happening a lot through Veterans’ Day what with their pictures in the paper. Their undercover situation felt precarious and he internally cringed. He waved back. “Thank you.”
“Isn’t that nice?” Polly said, waving at the woman as well. “You know her?”
Sean shook his head.
“I think I have the perfect shop in mind,” Winnie said, taking Sean’s arm again and steering him down the center path between shops.
“Is it the same one I’m thinking of?” Nancy asked, with a knowing grin on her face.
“Where you got your dress for Grace’s and Ryker’s wedding?” Rosa asked.
Winnie and Nancy both nodded.
“Yes, that’ll do just right,” Polly said, this time taking Sean’s other arm.
Sean thought back to Ryker’s wedding to Nancy’s granddaughter, Grace. It was only a few months ago, which was why Ryker had been MIA so much lately. He was still in the honeymoon phase. It was fine by him that the lovesick prince sequestered himself with his new wife. They could keep all that lovey-dovey googly eyes behind closed doors thank you very much.
Sean tried to remember Nancy’s dress. It had flowers on it and was flowy-ish. “I liked your dress,” Sean said. “It was pretty. Classic.” He cringed at his descriptive word of choice while other words like “BOHO,” “lace,” and “eclectic” came to mind. Sean’d never been good at describing women’s clothes.
There went Nancy’s blush again. “Thank you.”
